Looking for positive/hopeful anime series

[Mister K]

I want to watch new, relatively short (25-50 episodes) anime series.

I am willing to give a try to any genre, be it sci-fi, slice of life, whatever.

I only ask you to NOT recommend series where humanity is evil/ humanity doesn't deserve to live/evil wins, etc. I mean, I like Berserk, but right now I want something different.

Basically, I want a story where main character/characters are good people and they get a good ending. Or something like that.

For example, Ore Monogatari was a cute and funny series that I liked for just how lovey-dovey main characters are.

Trigun I think counts as relatively positive series too. I mean, yes, one of the more important good guys dies, but overall this series is filled with positivety, about good guys winning, about how being a good person is ultimately rewarding, etc.

Thank you very much for your recommendations.

 

[Queen Michael]

Cardcaptor Sakura is a personal favorite of mine. It's a bit longer than you asked for--70 episodes--but it's still worth checking out for the sweetness, and for how the belief that nobody's really evil suffuses the series. It's a series that's sweet not because that's what the PTA demanded, but because the creators genuinely have a passion for that kind of feel.

 

[Asita]

Mushishi. It's basically a bunch of "just-so" stories where a wanderer helps people who are having supernatural problems. Now if that's raising alarm bells for you, rest assured, the series is actually quite mellow. For bonus points, it's readily accessible because Funimation hosts it on YouTube.

 

[Saelune]

Mushishi. It's basically a bunch of "just-so" stories where a wanderer helps people who are having supernatural problems. Now if that's raising alarm bells for you, rest assured, the series is actually quite mellow. For bonus points, it's readily accessible because Funimation hosts it on YouTube.

That show is kind of a bummer. Its like a melancholy medieval Asian Twilight Zone. Rarely gets as dark as The Twilight Zone, but I never feel any pep left after an episode.

 

[FalloutJack]

Mushishi. It's basically a bunch of "just-so" stories where a wanderer helps people who are having supernatural problems. Now if that's raising alarm bells for you, rest assured, the series is actually quite mellow. For bonus points, it's readily accessible because Funimation hosts it on YouTube.

That show is kind of a bummer. Its like a melancholy medieval Asian Twilight Zone. Rarely gets as dark as The Twilight Zone, but I never feel any pep left after an episode.

I honestly felt relaxed after said episodes. I think it's a good series.

 

[Saelune]

Mushishi. It's basically a bunch of "just-so" stories where a wanderer helps people who are having supernatural problems. Now if that's raising alarm bells for you, rest assured, the series is actually quite mellow. For bonus points, it's readily accessible because Funimation hosts it on YouTube.

That show is kind of a bummer. Its like a melancholy medieval Asian Twilight Zone. Rarely gets as dark as The Twilight Zone, but I never feel any pep left after an episode.

I honestly felt relaxed after said episodes. I think it's a good series.

I'm not saying its bad, I'm saying by the end of it I always feel sad or something.

 

[Zontar]

KonoSuba is a short (13 episodes but a second season is coming)

It's actually 10 episodes with a single OVA. And god could it have used those extra 2 or 3 episodes for that part it skipped that was relevant to the plot was skipped for no logical reason.

 

[Catnip1024]

Is an actual plot important, or are you happy for sheer awesomeness to make up for its absence? Because Nichijou (My Ordinary Life) has to be the best one I've seen. Most of the ones with plots have this tendency to depressing melodrama.

 

[bluegate]

Arslan Senki is a pretty interesting series, currently airing its second season.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Well, Puella Magi Madoka Magica has something of an optimistic outcome... if you don't mind a bit of darkness on the way. Also, you might want to ignore "Rebellion Story" if you like how the series ended.

Or maybe just Tenga Toppen Gurren Lagan if you feel like some awesome action.

 

[Scarim Coral]

The only one I can think of at the top of my head is Tiger and Bunny.

Despite the name, it's a Superhero theme anime and without too much toward the hate toward super powered people. Also the main character is a lovable fool for doing the hero cliche (crash first and then safety later).

 

[crimson5pheonix]

RE:Zero :^)

Real talk: A lot of Ghibli movies of course, Flying Witch, Azumanga Daioh, Tanaka-kun is always listless, Humanity has declined.

 

[Lightspeaker]

Well, Puella Magi Madoka Magica has something of an optimistic outcome... if you don't mind a bit of darkness on the way. Also, you might want to ignore "Rebellion Story" if you like how the series ended.

Ye gods. I wouldn't recommend that to someone who is after, in their own words, something that is "filled with positivity". Whilst it is, by far, my favourite anime series of all time it is also something that really digs into the darkness of humanity. And the way Rebellion goes I think is about as far from a pure positive ending as you can get. The whole thing is a complex and controversial commentary on the nature of love.


Anyway...on topic:
- KonoSuba (mentioned above) is probably one of the best new anime series of this year for sheer fun. Its funny, silly and generally really enjoyable. Would recommend.

- Girls und Panzer is very high on my list of enjoyable series. Its exciting and interesting with nice attention to detail and good characters. All round it generally maintains a very positive atmosphere; so if you're looking for something both well put together and relatively light in tone then I'd take a look.

- All else fails you could perhaps take a look at Monster Musume if you don't mind an extreme level of ecchi fanservice. You can't do a lot better in terms of nice characters with great personalities. Its got some weight behind it and some really poignant commentary on how people who are 'different' in some way are treated by society, but its really upbeat and highly entertaining.

 

[mecegirl]

Your best bet will be anything slice of life. I'm gonna list as many as I can think of off the top of my head that are mostly comedy and fluff.

Silver Spoon
Working
Moyashimon
Hanamaru Kindergarten
Barakamon
Great Teacher Onizuka
K-On
Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou
Shonen Maid
Nichijou
Acchi Kocchi
Jellyfish Princess
The Wallflower
Osheite Galko Chan
Inari Kon Kon
Saint Oniisan
Gokusen

 

[Randomosity]

Gundam Build Fighters. It is a really fun series that doesn't have all the melodrama of the usual gunadm series. It is really positive.

Boku no Hero Academia is also a good choice in my opinion.

 

[Leg End]

I'm going to be seen as fucking insane from anyone who has actually seen/read it but, after finishing it with a friend last night(actually, I just finished it about twelve hours ago, if even that), I'm going to suggest Kaiji. It's a series that goes from a very basic opening to despair, to hope, to despair, to hope, to despair, and so on until we reach the conclusion but along the way it both explores and has commentary on the human condition and humanity in general, with lots of things that will go from humans at their worst, to at their best, particularly in the form of Kaiji Ito himself. I suggest it as a good series that had two seasons that adapted the Manga well from what I know and both clock in at 26 episodes. It's the perfect series to marathon over a weekend and even better to watch in a group with guys because it's basically a sausagefest and there are only about three female characters existing, and for the anime only one of them actually makes it onscreen for a moment, one doesn't even properly appear in the season and only exists in the credits and the last is only a photo. THERE ARE NO WOMEN IN FKMT.

Makes it perfect as a series of nothing but manly hope and suffering and you'll find yourself hyped with everybody and hoping Kaiji is truly a genius and wins total victory. When it got to the climax during The Bog, I was holding myself back from screaming just from what started to happen that clearly was not intended to happen and had no rational explanation other than, well, let's just say that you could say the event mirrored something in Akagi and it's about time something related to human suffering given form made it into Kaiji. Perfect series, can't recommend it enough and I think I'm actually going to watch it again just for how awesome it was. Just be warned if you do see it, prepare for some major suffering in pursuit of a chance at a happy ending.

Oh, and I should actually mention it's a gambling series. All of this insanity in what you'd think is simple games of chance and skill. Don't underestimate it for that though as you could say that's how everyone gets trapped into a lot of the games in the series, specifically the first season.
Also need to say, if you plan on starting it at all, you need to see it through to the end or else, well, let's just say it might not totally qualify for your expectations.

Cardcaptor Sakura is a personal favorite of mine. It's a bit longer than you asked for--70 episodes--but it's still worth checking out for the sweetness, and for how the belief that nobody's really evil suffuses the series. It's a series that's sweet not because that's what the PTA demanded, but because the creators genuinely have a passion for that kind of feel.

I double on this and would have suggested it first in this post but, well, you're a Ninja, Michael. If you want a series that's lighthearted as hell but can actually have tension while not being UTTER DESPAIR, CCS is your game and makes you realize that consequences don't need to involve the world ending every five minutes.

 

[09philj]

Log Horizon. It's about a load of people who get trapped in a game world. Unlike Sword Art Online, it actually does interesting things with the set up, and is largely about political skullduggery and building a society from scratch. The main character is basically the world's nicest Machiavellian psychopath.